Ritual and Magic in Pre-17th Century Japan

Introduction:

Ritual was a huge part of the lives of the medieval Japanese person. This class is going to focus on three distinct ways that ritual was used in Japan during the SCA period. The first is the bedrock of the culture of Japan in period, Shintoism. Shintoism is an animistic religion which centres around the idea that everything has a spirit. Shintoism touches every aspect of the Japanese culture. Even the Emperor of Japan is said to be a descendant of Amaterasu, the Japanese Sun goddess. The shinto faith puts a great deal of emphasis on ritual purification, and many customs centre on avoiding contamination. Many Shinto rituals are intended to act as a vehicle of communication between man and the kami (Spirits/Gods), and marked important landmarks in life. This section of the class will focus on the everyday rituals found in Japanese households of the time period.

In 805 a Buddhist monk, named Kukai, returned to Japan after learning from a Master Huiguo in China. With him Kukai brought Esoteric Buddhism, a school of thought which focuses on the use of ritual and meditation to achieve Enlightenment within one’s lifetime. In this section of the class we will cover the mudra and mantra practice known as the kuji-in. As well as the Goma Fire ritual, and others.

There was later a synthesis of this esoteric Buddhism with existing Shinto beliefs, and other mysticism which was already present in Japan at the time. This synthesis, known as Onmyōdō, is the topic of the third form of ritual found in the culture of Japan before the 17th Century. The magic of the shinobi no mono, and samurai are rituals which can be found in mikkyo. In this section we will be discussing spells found in “manuals of Shinobi no jutsu” published for the feudal lords of the early 17th century, as well as the practice known as the kuji-kiri.

Shintoism:

Shinto Beliefs

1. Nature is understood to be creative and life-giving (Musubi)
2. Unusual or Superior concentrations of this life-giving force are called kami (this can be an aspect of nature, or humanity)
3. Spiritual contamination (tsumi) obstructs the musubi and kami, therefore one ought to rid themselves, and their surroundings of this contamination.

Rituals found in Shintoism

1. Purification rituals - To “straighten” themselves and their surroundings to clear the obstructions to musubi.
2. Rituals to communicate with Kami
   1. Structure
      1. Cleansing and Preparation of the space and self
      2. Evocation of the Kami - Chanting etc
      3. Offerings
      4. Further ritual purification.
   2. Purpose - Everything from ensuring a good harvest to blessing a union or time in a person’s life

Example Rituals

1. Shimenawa - Ritual cords which mark the places of kami
2. Prayer placards at shinto temples
3. Daily morning service “Chō Hai”
4. Sumai no Sechie

Shingon Buddhism / Mikkyo:

Mikkyo beliefs

1. Similar to the buddhism found in china
   1. Belief in buddhist gods, etc
2. Belief that enlightenment is attainable in one lifetime
3. Relies on ritual, as well as meditation to achieve enlightenment

Rituals found in Mikkyo

1. Goma fire ritual - Symbolically burning away desires, while sending prayers for wishes to come true
2. Tantra - Harnessing of generative energies to fuel ritual and meditative practice
3. Kuji in - Mantra and Mudra practices

Example Rituals

1. Goma Fire Ritual
   1. Consecrated Fire believed to have a cleansing effect spiritually and psychologically. The fire also symbolizes the wisdom of the Buddha.
   2. Priests chant, and at large rituals there are drums and conch horns blown.
   3. Sticks, upon which prayers are written. Symbolize human desire, which Buddhists believe to be the source of suffering.
2. Ritual of the Skull (If those in attendance are amenable)
3. Kuji in
   1. Nine Hand positions (Mudra) with matching chants (Mantra)
   2. Meditation / Prayer Practice said to bring some amount of magic power to the practitioner
   3. Each mudra and mantra are tied in someway to a Buddhist god and is seeking a particular effect

Onmyōdō

Folk Magic Beliefs

1. Synthesis of Mikkyo, Shintoism and Taoism
2. Borrowed heavily from Taoist Geomancy, Astrology, and magic
3. Ritual Magic could cause changes in nature, and people

Rituals found in Onmyōdō

1. Divination - Astrology, etc
2. Geomancy - Feng Shui like organising of buildings
3. Spells - All sorts of purposes.

Example Rituals

1. Kuji kiri
   1. Directed Intention - Form the idea of what you want
   2. Draw the Kuji Grid
   3. Draw the Kanji that represents your idea
   4. Force the energy of your intent out into the world
2. Spell to affect the relationships between people
   1. Directed Intention
   2. Piece of paper
   3. Write the appropriate characters, including the names of the people you want to influence
   4. Fold paper according to desire
3. Spell to transmit dreams
   1. Complicated ingredient list to make ink
   2. Write the details of the dream on a card, as a tied letter.
   3. Write the Sign of Seimei on the folded knot, and the kuji kiri on the reverse
   4. Put the target’s name on the top of the folded paper and yours below it
   5. Place the document in a graveyard

References

Boyd, James, and Ron G. Williams. “Shinto Purification Rituals: An Aesthetic Interpretation.” Shinto Purification Rituals - Introduction. Kenyon College, n.d. Web. 03 May 2017.

Cummins, Antony John. SAMURAI and NINJA: the Real Story Behind the Japanese Warrior Myth that Shatters the Bushido Mystique. Tōkyō: Chāruzuītatorushuppan, 2015. Print.

Roley, Don. Shoninki - The True Records of the Shadow Warriors. N.p.: n.p., 2012. Print.

“Shingon Buddist Temple.” Seattle Koyasan. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017.

Yamasaki, Taikō, Yasuyoshi Morimoto, David Kidd, Taikō Yamasaki, and Taikō Yamasaki. Shingon: Japanese esoteric Buddhism. Boston: Shingon Buddhist International Institute, published by arrangement with Shambhala Publications, 1996. Print.